As the US Postal Service faces insolvency, the relic of a pre-internet world (and symbol/punch line for inefficiency and ineptitude) has come up with a really good idea for making some extra cash: Selling pre-paid AMEX, Visa, MasterCard and Discover cards.

Starting in June, the USPS will begin selling the cards to customers at around 2,000 post offices and on its web site.

According to the AP:

Current plans call for sales of fixed amount cards of $25 and $50 value, plus variable-value cards where the buyer can designate the amount at between $26 and $100. In addition there will be a fee of $4.95 for a fixed amount card or $5.95 for a variable one. The cards will have to be purchased from a clerk.

It’s worth noting that it took nearly five months for the USPS to approve this idea.

So the next time you want to buy a pre-paid gift card, you can go to the post office to wait in line for 30 minutes to be assisted by a grumpy, grumbling postal worker. Or you could just go to pretty much any chain retail store and be done in a couple minutes. Your call.

Post office sales of gift cards approved [Chicago Breaking Business]

Want more consumer news? Visit our parent organization, Consumer Reports, for the latest on scams, recalls, and other consumer issues.